Climbing attachment for skis



May 6, 1952 E. LAPOINTE 2,595,586

CLIMBING ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed June 10, 1949 Inventor` La amie Att orn eys Patented May 6, 1952 CLIMBING ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Ernest Lapointe, Magog East, Quebec, Canada Application June 10, 1949, Serial No. 98,280 In Canada March 31, 1949 Vjusted to an operative position under the ski for f use in climbing, etc., or to an inoperative, out-ofthe-way position.

It will be recognized that skiers often havel diiculty in climbing steep or icy slopes owing to the tendency of the skis to slide downward. Many skiers thus are caused awkward and even dangerous tumbles.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an attachment which the skier may adjust on his skis when climbing or standing still, the said attachment being adapted to discourage the ski 'from slipping when the skier exerts pressure thereon.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character described which is simple and practical in design, and which may advantageously be tted to any conventional type of ski.

Yet another object is to provide an attachment such as is set forth above which is easily and inexpensively constructed and may be modied quickly for use in different kinds of snow.

And still another object is to provide an attachment of the nature described which may act also as a guide for some types of ski-boot harnesses, for instance, the cable-type of harness.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent, or be further pointed out, in the description to follow.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the attachment in inoperative position aflixed to a ski;

Figure2 shows a similar view but with' the attachment adjusted into operative position as when climbing;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective View of the attachment only, as adjusted corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fuigure 4 shows a similar view with the device adjusted as in Fig. 2;

Figure 5 shows a side elevation view of a portion of the ski looking at one end of the device when adjusted operatively;

Figure 6 shows a section transverse the ski corresponding to line 6--6 in Figure 5, and

Figure 7 shows a section taken along line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein the same reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout, the device is seen to cornprise a plate Ill transverse the ski and swingable in a transverse plane, the said plate being coupled to a frame II (xed across the top of the ski) and being capable of fixture in an inoperative position across the ski above frame II or in an operative position transverse the bottom of the ski jutting downward therefrom. Obviously in the former position the attachment has no effect on the action of the ski, but in the latter position plate I0 juts down into the snow or ice footing and holds the ski against slipping unless the same is lifted as the wearer steps onward.

The drawing shows in detail a preferred manner of mounting plate I0 with respect to the ski and in co-operation with frame Il. The latter comprises a pair of spaced parallel bars I2 mounted transverse the ski (extending somewhat laterally thereof) on a central plate I3 and held as by screws I4. At each end thereof, the bars are enlarged in an upwardly direction relative to the ski and. have a pin I5 mounted therein. Near the base of the bars, a pivot pin I6 is mounted therebetween at one end and projecting lugs Il are provided on the other and for reasons hereinafter set forth.

Upon pin I6 is journalled, at one end, a link member designated by I9 which is accordingly swingable in a plane transverse to the ski. The other end of the link carries a sleeve 20 through which passes a pin 2I. The link is preferably of hollow cylindrical shape and has a spring 22 coiled therein. A shaft 23 which carries sleeve 20 at one end is slidable in the link and is coupled to spring 22 in order that the sleeve will be urged in towards the link.

Another link 25, of dimensions corresponding to the iirst, is releasably securable to projecting lugs Il of the frame by virtue of a wing-bolt 25,

` the winged head of which projects from the link and may be engaged on the lugs. At the other end of the link is a sleeve 21 carrying a pin 28 and being carried, in turn, by a shaft 29 urged inwards relative to the link by a spring 30, just as in the case of link I9.

The plate I0 is in a plane transverse the ski and is carried on a perpendicular bar 3|. At each end of the bar are a pair of ears 32 by virtue of which the plate is pivotally coupled on pins 2I and 28. Accordingly, if the wing-bolt be disengaged from lugs Il, plate II] and the two links may be swung back and forth around the ski so that the plate may occupy, selectively, a limiting inoperative position across the top of frame Il or a limiting operative position across underneath the ski. In each case, to hold the device in position, the body of the wing-bolt is adjusted between the lugs Il with the winged head engaged on the latter. In these positions, the depth of the ski or the height of bars l2 causeA sleeves 20 and 2'! to be drawn somewhat away from the respective ends of their links against the force of the springs. The tension of the springs holds the wing bolt from inadvertent disengagement.

Obviously operation or adjustment of the device is simple. To move the plate l0, the skier disengages the wing bolt and swings the device into the desired position, re-engaging the bolt once more. If desired, different types of plate l may be provided for different types of snow. For icy conditions, a plate I0 having downwardly directed teeth 35 reinforced by gusset plates 36 is preferable. For thick.soft snow, a straight plane plate may be desirable. To change plates, pins 2| and 28 maybe rendered removable, perhaps each being threaded in one lug 32.

As another feature of the invention, the device may frequently be located in front of the skiers boot when the latter is using a harness of the cable type, or a similar style.

In such cases, the spring cables (38,- Figs. 2, 6) may be only very loosely controlled and the invention may act also as a guide forsame. In this case, Figure 6 shows that the bottom of bars E2 are provided withnotches 39 through which the cables may be passed for guiding purposes. Where the skis are ofthe type having a ridge di! in the middle thereof at this point, angle bars such as 4I may be aflxed to the skis under bars l2 in order to provide a flat surface upon which cables 38 mayslide and also to provide a closure for the bottom of notches 39.

Obviously, from the foregoing, the present invention fulfills the objectives set forth above. When constructed ofrnagnesium the device constitutes an exceedingly light, Vsimple and effective attachment forY assistance to a skier in climbing, etc. It is easily adjusted; thev snow or. ice-gripping plate may easily be exchanged for varying snow conditions, and the device may be manufactured at low cost. Finally, the device may act also as a guide for the cables of certain types of ski equipment.

It will therefore be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular embodiment of my invention herein shown and described, since obviously various alterations may be made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a ski attachment of the character described, a frame afxable across the ski extending laterally thereof, an extensible resilient link at each end of the frame, one of said links pivoted to the frame and the other link having means for releasably and resiliently securing it to said frame, said securing means comprising a pair of lugs projecting out from one end of said frame and a wing-bolt on the corresponding link, the body of said bolt adapted to t between said lugs and the winged head adapted to engage same, and a plate for snow-gripping purposes pivoted at each end to one of said links; whereby said links and plate may be swung in a plane transverse the ski and selectively fastened so that said plate occupies an inoperative position across the top and an operative position across the bottom of the ski.

2. In a ski attachment of the character described, a frame aixable across the ski extending laterally thereof, an extensible resilient link at each end of the frame, each comprising a cylindrical hollow member, a rod slidable within said member and a coil spring secured at one end of said rod and bearing at the other end against said member to urge said rod inwardly of said member, one of said links pivoted to the frame and the other link having means for releasably and resiliently securing it to said frame, said securing means comprising a pair of lugs projecting out from one end of said frame and a wing-bolt on the corresponding link, the body of said bolt adapted to t between said lugs and the winged head adapted to engage same, and a plate for snow gripping purposes pivoted at each end to one of said links, whereby said links and plate may be swung in a yplane transverse the ski and selectively fastened so that said plate occupies an inoperative position across the top and anoperative position across the bottom of the ski, the thickness of the ski and of the frame being such, relative to the normal length of the links, as to force the plate away from the links and hence place a strain on said springs when the device is fastened in operative and inoperative positions, the tension on said springs adapted to prevent in turn inadvertent disengagement of said'wing-boltfromsaid lugs.

3. In a ski attachment as claimed in claim 2, said frame having apertures therethrough adapted to pass ski cables and guide the same.

ERNEST LAPOINTE.

REETERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the file of this patent:

FGREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 70,258 Austria Oct. 25, 1915 163,304 Switzerland Oct. 2, 1933 536,971 Germany Oct. 29, 1931 651,271 France Feb. 16, 1929 

